I Love You, Little Monster

A sandy-haired boy is nicknamed Little Monster by his mother, and he dresses the part, donning green monster slippers, polka-dotted bat wings, a fuzzy green tail, and a pair of antennae. He acts it, too, painting with oatmeal on the wall and sneaking out the dog door. His mother, though, doesn’t mind, encouraging his creative explorations: “Who’s my bravest little monster,/ Little Monster, monster mine?/ You have caverns to explore/ and lofty mountaintops to climb.” Arnold uses color sparingly—only the boy, his accoutrements, and his stuffed monster are colored in; everything else, including his mother, are simple b&w outlines, emphasizing his centrality. Weiss and Arnold convey the joy of rowdy child’s play with the keen perception of a loving and watchful guardian. Ages 1–4. (Jan.)